BIRD, CELTICS WORK ON NEW DEAL

Larry Bird faced an uncertain future when he had back surgery last June. Now he can look forward to three more seasons with the Boston Celtics as both parties work out details of a contract extension.

Bird has stood up to the rigors of training camp practices and exhibition games so well that he wants a new deal that would run through the 1993-94 NBA season. If Bird plays in 1993-94, he will be a 15-year veteran at age 37.

The two sides agreed to extend his current contract, which expires after this season, by two years, a source said Tuesday. The Boston Globe quoted sources as saying the extension would be worth $4 million a year.

The extension ''is something both parties would like, but at this point it`s just conversations,'' Bob Woolf, Bird`s attorney, said. ''Nothing is finalized.''

The Celtics wouldn`t confirm or deny that an agreement has been reached.

The Globe reported that Alan Cohen, one of the Celtics owners, said Monday night, ''We`ve said all along that if Larry can play two more years, or 10 more years, then we would be happy to have him do so.''

Bird played with back pain most of last season and missed 22 games because of injury. The team was 10-12 without him.